Radiator-cap.



0. A. LOEW.

RADIATOR CAP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 6. 1913.

Lmww. Patented NOV. 30, 1915 v 2 SHEETS-SHEET I. w

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O. A; LOEW.

RADIATOR CAP. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 6. 1913.

1,1 62,703. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Witnesses. @fimw 4% 918m OSCAR A. LOEW, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'lO FRANK H. TEAGLE, OF

' CLEVELAND, OHIO.

RADIATOR-GAP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR A. Lonw, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin and Relating to Radiator-Caps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a radiator filler cap and similar devices.

It has for its object,v to provide a cap which is readily and quickly attachable and detachable, and which when attached provides an eflective closure.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying my invention. 7 Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a spacing cup detached. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the axis of the device shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the device shown inFig. 3. Fig. 6 are details in perspective. Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modified form of construction. Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the axis thereof. Fig. 9 is a side elevation, and Fig. 10 a bottom plan view of the device shownin Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is a vertical section through the axis of still another modified. form of device. Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig. 11.

In the drawings, 1 indicates an inlet duct or filling inlet. This may be connected to a radiator (not shown) in any suitable manner. Near its upper end this duct or inlet passage-way is provided with an inturned annular flange 1', constructed in any desired manner. I

2 is a cap piece or shell having a top 2 and an annular section 2, which latter is adapted to fit snugly over (1 preferably engage the outer wall of the inlet duct 1. Thevtop wall 2 carries an axially disposed annular boss 2 through which extends the shaft 3' of an operating plunger 3 having an external head piece or handle 3 and an internal wedge or cam 3", secured to or formed integrally with the shaft 3'.

4 is a cup-shaped element arranged within and carried by the shell or cap 2. Itmay be secured in position in any suitable manner. This cup-shaped element 4 has an Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented at 30.1915.

Application filed November 6, 1913. Serial No. 799,475.

axial opening 4 alined with the boss 2 and through which extends the plunger Wedge 3 The element 4 carries a plurality of downwardly turned lugs or bosses 4.

5 is a retaining washer; it may be secured to the lugs 4 in any suitable manner. Rivets 6 for this purpose are shown. Between the retaining washer 5 and the bottom wall 4* of the cup-shaped element 4 is arranged a clamp ring 7. This ring is formed with radial arms 7', 7', separated from each other at their inner ends, which are enlarged at 7 and recessed at 7 to receivethe plunger head or'operating wedge 3 The ring 7 is split as indicated at 7, and formed of resilient material to permit of its expansion and contraction.

8 is an annular gasket of any suitablematerial, such as soft rubber, interposed between the cover piece 2 and the cup element 4, and disposed, when the device is in operative position, to engage with the upper annular edge of the neck piece 1 to form a packing ring between the device and the neck p1ece so as to preclude the escape of vapor or steam, and to preclude rattling and "remove vthe device the plunger handle 3 is grasped by the operator and drawn up warelly so as to elevate the plunger cam 3 until its reduced or tapered end permits the clamp ring 7 to contractuntil it isvfree' of c the flange 1', when the filler caprig'inay. be

bodily removed to expose the inlet port of the duct 1. To attach the device all that is necessary is to locate it upon the neck 1 and press downwardly on the plunger handle 3 until the plunger isin its depressed position and has. expanded the clamp ring ,7 into engagement with the under wall of the flange 1'. t

My idea is susceptible of embodiment in devices of the required size for relatively low cost. The cap piece 2 may be a stamp.-.

ing of sheet metal, as may also be the cup 4:, washer 5 and clamp ring 7. The plunger stem and wedge head may be screw machine product and the handle 3 may be cheaply constructed, as of some readily molded material, like hard rubber. In a device of this kind economy of production enters largely into the utility of the idea, and I have sought to reduce the cost of such a filler cap to a minimum, at the same time providing a device readily operable and the operation of which will not be attended with the many disadvantageous characteristics incident to devices for similar purposes now generally used.

Modifications of my invention willsuggest themselves to those skilled in the art. For example: In Figs. 7 to 10 I have illustrated a cap mechanism in which the duct 1 is recessed atl immediately beneath the annular inturned flange 1. A metallic cap piece 9 has a cylindrical section 9 which snugly engages the outer wall of the neck 1. The top portion of the cup-shaped element 9 is corrugated or grooved circumferentiallv as indicated at .9. 10 is an annular gasket carried by the cup-shaped element 9 and adapted to engage the upper edge of the flange l to preclude the escape of vaporor steam and prevent rattling or chattering of the cap on the neck when it is attached thereto. 11 are plunger brackets secured at their upper ends, as by means of rivets, to

the top wall of the cup-shaped element 9.

Each of these plunger brackets has a cylindrical section 11 radially disposed with reference to the axis of the cup-shaped element. 12 are plungers, each arranged in one of said plunger cylinders and having a plunger stem 12 which extends through the adjacent end wall of the cylinder and a head 12 adapted to enter the recess 1* and to engage the under wall of the annular flange 1. The outer end of each plunger head is semispherical in shape. 13 are springs, each arranged in a plunger cylinder and around the plunger stem therein and adapted normally to press the adjacent plunger head radially outwardly. After the plunger brackets 11 have been secured tothe cupshaped element 9 a suitable exterior for the cup-shaped device may be molded or formed about the element 9, such as hard rubber, indicated at 14. The brackets 11 assist in holding the gasket 10 in position within the cap. The operation of the device will be readily understood. A suflicient pressure directly upwardly on'a cap as bythe hand of the operator; will tend to causethe plunger heads to move radially inwardly to free the cap from the flange 1. When it is desired to replace the cap, a given pressure downwardly upon it, when it is positioned upon a neck piece 1 will tendto cause the plungerheads to move readily inwardly until they clear the annular flange 1, where upon they will at once, under spring action, move radially outwardly into the recess 1 and engage the under wall of the flange 1.

A further modification of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12in which in place of the plunger brackets I employ a plurality of spring elements '15, each constructed of material of suitable resilience and formed near its free end with a V- shaped section 15, having the point of the V free to enter the recess 1 in the neck 1 so as to effect an engagement between the lower wall of the annular flange l and the ment of the springs until they snap in under the flange 1.

I find it advantageous to have the cylindrical walls of the cap surrounding the duct 1 extend downwardly beneath the point at which the resilient clamping means press radially against the inner wall of the duct 1, so as to strengthen the structure generally at this point.

Since the water in the radiator and the radiator itself may become quite warm, I have found it distinctly advantageous to have the handle or knob 3 made of a suitable insulating material which is a good nonconductor of heat. This insures that irrespective of the heat attained by the radiator in normal operation, the operator may take hold of the handle 3 and remove the filler cap without burning his hand or having to take hold of a. disagreebly hot operating device. 7

To those skilled in the art of making apparatus of the class described, many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative, and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

lVhat I claim is a 1. A duct having an inwardly turned flange, a cap to close said'duct, a split resilient metal ring carried by said cap, a gasket between the upper wall of said duct flange and said cap; and means for expanding and positively holding said ring in direct engagement with the under wall of said flange.

2. A duct having an inwardly turned flange, a cap having a cylindrical section arranged to surround said duct, a split resilient ring carried by said cap, a gasket between the upper wall of said'flange and said cap, and means carried bysaid cap for controlling the expansion of said ring.

3. A duct having ,an inwardly turned flange, a cap having a cylindrical section arranged to surround said duct, a split resilient ring carried by said cap, a gasket between the upper Wall of said flange and said cap, and a plunger carried by said cap and extending therethrough for expanding said ring into engagement with the under wall of said flange.

4:. In a radiator cap in combination, a cap, a sheet metal cup arranged within and carried by said cap with the bottom of the cup at the bottom of the cap, a washer spaced from and secured to the bottom of said cup, a split resilient metal ring interposed between said washer and the bottom of the cup, said cap, cup, washer and ring being formed with axial openings each alining with the other, and a plunger extending through said openings and having a head at its lower end which engages with said split ring to control the expansion and contraction of the latter.

5. A duct having/ an inwardly turned flange, a cap to close said duct, said cap having a section disposed to receive an annular gasket to engage'said duct when said cap is in position thereon, a split resilient metal ring fioatingly supported by said cap out of radial alinement with said gasket, and means for controlling the expansion and contraction of said ring into and out of direct engagement with said flange.

6. A duct having an inwardly turned flange, a cap to close said duct, a split metallic ring floatingly supported by said cap,

and a plunger carried by said cap, extending therethrough and having its lower end shaped to engage directly and control the expansion and contraction of said ring into and out of direct engagement with the under wall of said duct flange.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

oscARA. LOEW.

Witnesses:

H. A. HAUXHURST, EDWARD R. ALEXANIDER. 

